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OSHA nursing home inspection initiative

Summary A long-term-care association raised concerns about OSHA’s nursing home inspection initiative, including inspector training and residents’ privacy. OSHA said it considered the inspection framework sound, would share the concerns with regional coordinators, and was discussing the privacy issue with the federal health-care agency. The letter addresses the inspection program rather than creating a separate workplace rule.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1997-10-10-0
Date issued
October 10, 1997
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA labels this an archive document and says it may no longer represent agency policy; the page does not state a withdrawal or replacement.
Status last verified October 9, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1910 Healthcare Facilities Inspections
Source
View the official document

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The current status of this document is unclear
OSHA labels this an archive document and says it may no longer represent agency policy; the page does not state a withdrawal or replacement. It may no longer reflect the agency's current position. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.
About this page: The full text below is the official document from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

October 10, 1997

Sheldon L. Goldberg, President
American Association of Homes
and Services for the Aging (AAHSA)
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Goldberg:

This correspondence is to address the concerns and issues you have raised in your September 24, 1997 letter to me regarding the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Nursing Home Initiative. OSHA thanks and appreciates the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging for its input and review on the Nursing Home Initiative in general. The Agency considers the Nursing Home Initiative to be a measured effort in a particular industry which has a high employee injury rate. We are confident that the process set forth is a sound structure from which to conduct our primary mission of inspection activity. We have provided a copy of your letter to our regional coordinators to make them aware of your concerns. In addition, the Agency is in contact with Health Care Financing Administration to address the concerns raised in your letter regarding the impact of OSHA inspection activity on the privacy rights of residents. We would strongly urge your organization to remain involved in this important program and continue to provide constructive input and guidance.

Thank you for your interest in safety and health.

Sincerely,

John B. Miles, Jr., Director
Directorate of Compliance Programs

[Requester letter reproduced on OSHA page; omitted here.]

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